For others, we recall here some important information to keep in mind before you start reading this masterpiece of philosophy:
-first, we must never forget that Marcus is not writing his thoughts to a third party, but for himself. The reader will therefore wrong to take the "you" repeated regularly as the manifestation of a professorial attitude of the emperor who would train a young mind.
-corollaire this first point, Marcus Aurelius wrote well and good for him. This implies, and this is confirmed in light of the loop repetition of the same words, he is struggling to convince! Thus, these thoughts are not written expression of a man who would have been an interior illumination condition, but a constant reminder of an emperor who had to fight not to lose sight of his own teaching.
-sometimes, the emperor speaks of the gods and sometimes God. The gods designate Jupiter, Minerva and Hades have born the Greeks and Romans adapted to their own culture. The God designates against the cosmos, the very expression of Nature, around the world. Specifically, a Christian can consider that it is the same God as his. Because yes, this pagan text is actually a great Christian apologia! Marcus Aurelius and the Stoics understood the nature and the world as a divine being and their influence on the Christians will be decisive. So do not be surprised Christlike accents of certain passages and very pious wisdom of the whole.
However, beyond this particular point, these thoughts to myself propose a philosophy of renunciation of desire, of the suspension of judgment on others and calls for inner serenity tranquility motivated by criteria of fairness, compassion, gentleness and self-confidence. Some will find it difficult to swallow stoicism as it seems impossible to hold, binding and finally unrealizable. But yet it is a true medicine of the soul that Marcus offers to those who know listen: erase any trace of hatred or resentment in itself to accept the Other as it is and face life without bitterness or little.
Note that the book is introduced by a life of Marcus Aurelius very pleasant to read that gives see a man putting his well-directed education. The philosophy was not an easy posture for him, but a rule of life. Regrettably, however, an anti-Semitic remark in the heart of the text that does no credit to the publisher and the author of the introduction.
